Anti-corruption officials conduct search operation in city
Sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Friday conducted a search operation at the office of the Regional Transport Office (Central) and seized unaccounted cash Rs 1,22,270 cash from a room used by three Motor Vehicles Inspectors and a broker.
Following a tip off that money collected by a number of brokers used to be accounted and distributed among the officials on the last working day of the week, DVAC organised a search operation.
The team led by Additional Deputy Superintendent of Police D. Shanmuga Priya, Inspectors K.A. Unnikrishnan, A. Sadasivam and K. Sundarrajan entered the RTO around 12 noon and commenced the search operation on confirmed information that cash was to be shared in some time, DVAC sources said.
Searches and obtaining of statements from three Motor Vehicle Inspectors and Regional Transport Officer continued till evening.
The teams found Rs 51,770 kept in covers in the room of the Motor Vehicle Inspectors and recovered another Rs 70,500 from a broker Shanthakumar.
Interestingly, the DVAC officials have also recovered a slip accompanying the cash containing the break up of the day-wise collection during this week.
The slip also had details pertaining to cash collected for “various services” rendered to the applicants during this week.
DVAC is now invoking Section 102 of the Criminal Procedure Code as the unaccounted cash is suspected to be the money generated out of an offence.
On completion of the inquiry relating to the cash and Sec 102 of CrPC, then the DVAC is likely to proceed officially against the three Motor Vehicle Inspectors and Regional Transport Officer, DVAC sources said.
Sources also indicated that Motor Vehicle Inspectors Palraj, Vijayakumar and Gokulakrishnan
Meanwhile, works such as issue of learner’s licence, inspection for of new vehicles for registration, issuance of fitness certificate came to a standstill ever since the DVAC took control of the RTO (Central).
Applicants and vehicles were seen waiting for the officials to turn up. The wait continued till 5 p.m.
Keywords: Cash seized, DVAC raid, RTO, Motor Vehicle Inspectors
